Lahore-Karachi operation: 3 ‘target killers’, two cops killed in shootout

Suspects wanted for more than 50 serious crimes,says police.

LAHORE:

Police stormed into a house in Valencia Town on Wednesday and shot dead three men wanted for several murders in Karachi, losing two constables in the process.

Lahore police surrounded the house after receiving information from the Karachi police’s Crimes Investigation Department that three alleged target killers were inside, said SSP (Operations) Rana Jabbar.

The men inside the house opened fire at the police, hitting two personnel who died at the scene, the Sattokatla SHO told The Express Tribune.

After a lengthy exchange of fire, police stormed the house and took down the three suspects. Heavy weapons, a large quantity of ammunition and several passports were found in the house.

They were wanted for more than 50 serious crimes, he said. They included Alamgir, from Hyderabad, who was allegedly involved in a failed attempt to kidnap a woman from a shopping mall in Clifton, Karachi; Asif Baloch, from Haroonabad, believed to be the brother-in-law of notorious Lyari gangster Baba Ladla; and Jahangir, from Okara, who had arranged the accommodation.

Sources in the police said on the condition of anonymity that Alamgir’s wife Aasia had been arrested from the house.

The constables killed in action belonged to Sattokatla police station. They were Irshadullah, from Wazirabad, and Asadullah, from Jaranwala.

The three suspects had moved into the house three days ago, the SSP said. The police are looking for the owner of the house, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2013.